Heritage Wellesley

​Wellesley Township is committed to protecting and preserving its built heritage. In 2009, Wellesley TownshipHeritage and Historical Society commissioned a study of its heritage with an eye to future historical designations.The study was done over a 16 week period by students of the Heritage Resources Centre at the University of Waterloo. They examined heritage sites in four settlement areas: Wellesley, St. Clements, Hawkesville andLinwood. The resulting study contained enough information on heritage sites to enable the township could go ahead with a historical designation, if the property owners were amenable to the idea.

In 1999 the Wellesley Township implemented a new addressing system to comply with provincial 9-1-1 civic addressing​​ initiative. In 2000 the Waterloo Historical Society published an article outlining the name and street number changes in Wellesley Township. Read all about the new road names and why they are significant in township history. Reproduced here by permission of the Waterloo Historical Society. Click here to read the article.

Historic Neighbourhood SurveyIn the 1980s UW students under the direction of Peter John Stokes completed a survey of the historic buildingsin the village. ​To view the properties listed in the Historic Neighbourhood Survey, please clickhere.​

Designated Properties

The land on which this house sits was occupied by one of the township's earliest settlers, Nicholas Ancel. John Ament received the Crown Deed to the land in 1858 and built what is now the "tail" or addition to this fine, brick, Georgian house in the 1860s. The 2 1/2 storey brick house was built after 1861 but certainly before 1870.

At the time of designation, the house was virutally unaltered. Designated September 2, 1986.

This log house is recorded in the 1851 census, occupied by Adam Frenzel, his wife and six children. Frenzel emigrated to Canada from Germany in 1844.

The 1 1/2 storey log house, built on a fieldstone foundation is an excellent example of the type of house built by the township's earliest settlers. At the time of designation, there had been little or no exterior alteration. Designated June 8, 1991.

Bellmont House was built in 1861 by William Hastings, the first justice of the Peace in Crosshill. The house is an excellent example of a Gothic stone structure. It has been well maintained in its original state except for the closed in transom and sidelights of the front entrance.

Of particular note are the intricately carved stone quoins and the carved stone head above the Gothic window, said to be the likeness of William Hastings himself. Designated September 17, 1985

Queen's Hotel, 1215 Queen's Bush Road, Wellesley

The Queen's Hotel was built in1855 by Hugh Freeborn. It is a typical example of Waterloo County Georgian style. The original hotel was built of local fieldstone and consisted of 3 bays over 3 bays. Later, a 2 bay, brick addition was added to house the owner and his family.

The hotel operated under various owners and names until 1894 when Louis Shaub changed the name to the Queen's Hotel possibly to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee. Designated August 5, 1986.

S. S. #16 Wellesley School, 1137 Henry St., WellesleyS. S. # 16 was built in 1898 to replace the 1859 stone school which is located next door to the school.

While most institutional architecture at this time displayed Classical and Gothic influence, the school is Victorian in style and solidly vernacular. This means it was built to meet local needs, using locally available construction materials and reflected local traditions.

Notable features include the central tower, arched windows, semi-circular arched transom and the date stone. It is built of local yellow brick on a fieldstone foundation. Designated on September 19, 1989.

The township hall was built in Crosshill in 1855. Since then it has served as a community hall, a place for church services and is currently used as the Wellesley Township Council Chamber. As such it is the oldest municipal building in the area still in use.

It is a good example of Vernacular Classical Revival styling with its pediment gable and turned porch posts. It was built of rough rubble stone, with simple detailing including some attempt at coursing on the front facade. An addition was built on the back of the building in 1973. Designated October 5, 1987.

After the original log church it was destroyed by fire in 1870, a new church was built across the road in 1872.

It was built in the Neo-Classical revival style of with a coursed fieldstone exterior and cut limestone quoins. The square wooden bell tower has tin louvers and a Swiss/Bavarian octagonal spire and finial.

The Forrest house is on Lot 7 Concession 1 of the West Section. It is a 1 1/2 storey stone Gothic house built sometime soon after 1861. The Scottish influence is strong, the stone is excellent and in fine condition. Notable features include the cut limestone quoins, the lancet and the sidelights and transom. The interior features fine ceiling mouldings.